Sheeran started writing songs from a young age, after encouragement from a teacher, and says he wants to help plug the gap left by reduced arts funding. To support the launch of the foundation, the Grammy-winner is visiting schools and youth groups in Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Ed Sheeran is taking his love for music education to a new level, launching a foundation to ensure that children in the United Kingdom have access to high-quality music education. This initiative is close to the singer-songwriter's heart,

Ed Sheeran has established a foundation aimed at ensuring children in the UK have access to “high-quality”music education. The British singer-songwriter, who began writing songs at a young age with the encouragement of a teacher, seeks to address the gap left by cuts to arts funding in schools.

Ed Sheeran has pledged financial support to three music organisations in Belfast, which he visited on Friday. The pop superstar met young people and teachers during his trip, as part of the launch of his new charitable foundation, which supports the teaching of music in schools and other sectors.

The Ed Sheeran Foundation will advocate for greater access and funding to be devoted to young people learning instruments, having studio time, and training in all sectors of the music industry

The singer said in a video that he launched the fund after hearing about the poor state of music education in the U.K. from one of his former teachers.